Top Potential Free Agents - Defense
May 13th, 2020
Top Potential Free Agents - Defense
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This offseason, the free agency merry-go-round is due to be more frenetic than ever, with a number of high profile free agents hitting the market.
This article looks at the defensive side of the ball and lists the top free agents at each position.
Defensive Line
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DE John Abraham: Age 26 - years played = 4. Abraham is arguably the best pass rushing end in the league, with 46 sacks over his career. At 26, he has plenty of gas left in the tank and if he's not resigned or tagged, will likely spark quite the bidding war.
DE Jason Taylor: Age 30 - years played = 7. Athletically very gifted and was wasted on the right side in the first season of SFL. Hasn't quite produced up to the measurables but is still a top echelon talent with 2-3 years left in the tank.
DE Aaron Kampman: Age 25 - years played = 2. With youth on his side, Kampman has managed the right side very well for the Packers - only 6 sacks his first 2 seasons but has 8 on the current year. No elite attributes but very decent across the board - plus at 6-4, 286lbs, he is excellent against the run. A young talent that should attract some attention.
DT Bryant Young: Age 32 - years played = 10. The Panthers picked up Young as a push to get the to latter stages of the postseason. He has performed decently with 6 sacks but at his age and number of years played may well hit the open market. With a dearth of tackle talent, Young should get some interest but I can't see anything more than a 1 year show me deal.
Linebacker
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Interesting to note here is that Arizona have 3 linebackers hitting the open market.
OLB Dexter Coakley: Age 32 - years played = 7. Coakley is one of the more athletic linebackers available. Slightly undersized yet he excels in coverage, a team looking to improve their pass coverage may want to look at Coakley. However, at 99 overall, he will likely command a hefty contract.
ILB Jeremiah Trotter: Age 27 - years played = 6. A young impactful middle linebacker is quite rare and Trotter fits the bill nicely. Over 80 tackles per season - and 16 tackles for loss in the previous two, Trotter is a 3 down 'backer who can be the captain of a defense. The Browns have some decisions to make and Trotter will likely net a big payday in Cleveland or elsewhere.
OLB Keith Bulluck: Age 27 - years played = 4. Athletically, one of the most gifted of available free agents, Bulluck again is an impact player in the second level. The Cardinals, like the Browns, have some major personnel decisions to make and given that he has only played 4 years, Bulluck could the long term stud at OLB for many teams.
Secondary
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Cb Donnie Abraham: Age 28 - years played = 8. Production wise, Abraham is there or thereabouts as the top free agent. Yeah, he's 31 with 8 years played - but if you have an inexperienced secondary, he's a guy who can fill a role at a high level for at least a season, maybe 2. He has 10 INTs this season and 20 over his career - over 6 a year. That's ball skills right there.
CB Derek Ross: Age 24 - years played = 2. Ross caught my eye as one of the younger players on the list. He forms part of the starting rotation, at Nickel, for the Cowboys and ha some decent attributes. Nickel is a key position and although ostensibly you may prefer one of the older veteran players and their high awareness, developing young talent - behind vets - is always a good idea.
FS Darren Sharper: Age 29 - years played = 7. At 6-2, Sharper is a big man for a free safety. With very decent attributes across the board, he can tackle and play the ball
- as evidenced by 5 INTs this year. Young enough to still take a chance on, Sharper is my favourite safety.
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